Terrorists kill 34 in Jammu
Jammu,Tuesday, May 14, 2002: In a major terrorist strike, heavily armed militants today shot dead 34 people, including 22 armymen and their family members, after storming a military camp near here and firing indiscriminately on a passenger bus from Himachal Pradesh nearby.
Three militants in combat dress were killed in heavy exchange of fire with the army personnel in the camp at Kaluchak, about 10 kms from here, official sources said adding 39 people were injured, some of them critically.
Little known Al-Masooran militant outfit suspected to be a shadow group of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba, and Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen sepearately claimed the responsibility for the attack, the worst since the insurgency broke out in Jammu and Kashmir.
The militants who had appeared on Jammu-Pathankote highway between 0530 hours and 0600 hours (IST) boarded the Jammu-bound bus coming from Kulu at Bari-Brahmana.
After the bus moved towards Jammu city, the militants asked driver Prem Singh to stop at Kaluchak and got down and asked the passengers also to do the same.
Taking them to be armymen making searches, the passengers obliged. However, the militants believed to be a suicide squad, started firing on the passengers who had alighted from the bus killing seven of them on the spot.
A woman who was among the two passengers injured later succumbed in the hospital. She has been identified as Parmeswari Devi of R S Pura in Jammu.
Before storming the nearby army camp housing family quarters, the militants lobbed a grenade at the bus damaging it.
The sources said the militants hurled a grenade on the sentry at the gate of the housing complex, K P lines, and then fired indiscriminately killing him on the spot.
They fired indiscriminately on the army quarters killing 21 army personnel and their family members besides the sentry.
The army rushed to the spot and in the ensuing heavy exchange of fire, three militants were killed and 38 others were injured, several of them seriously.
The encounter, which started around 0615 hours continued for several hours, they said.
However, unofficial sources put the number of militants at five adding two of them were still holed up inside the complex.
The authorities have stopped movement of traffic on Jammu-Pathankote highway since morning.
A high alert has also been sounded in entire Jammu division in the wake of reports that some groups of ultras (suicide squads) have sneaked in from across the border.
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Two die in Hindu-Muslim riots in Maharashtra
At least two people died on Monday when sword-wielding Hindus and Muslims attacked each other in Maharashtra bordering Gujarat which has witnessed months of savage religious violence, police said.
Some 25 others were injured, five seriously, in the clash in a mainly Muslim district of Nandurbar city, where mobs also hurled crude petrol bombs at each other, police official B.K. Mane said. Police officers were among the injured.
The riot came as security forces in neighbouring Gujarat struggled to quell India's worst Hindu-Muslim violence in a decade that has claimed more than 950 lives since late February.
"The situation is under control but tense, and we're trying to find out the reason for the outbreak of the violence," Mane told Reuters by telephone from Nandurbar, 350 km from the country's financial capital, Bombay.
This is the third time in the past two months that religious violence has flared in Maharashtra, which has a history of serious communal clashes. Three people died in one incident in Kalyan, on Bombay's outskirts. So far, however, there has been no sign of large-scale violence spreading beyond Gujarat.
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HC stays Bofors trial till May 28, seeks CVC reply
New Delhi,Tuesday, May 14, 2002: Trial proceedings in the Bofors payoff case was today stayed till May 28 by Delhi High Court awaiting the reply of Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) to a petition filed by Hinduja brothers seeking quashing of the chargesheet against them on the ground that the same was filed by CBI without getting clearance from CVC.
Justice R S Sodhi stayed proceedings before the Trial Court after counsel for Hinduja brothers, senior advocate and former Law Minister Ram Jethmalani, submitted that non-staying of the proceedings would embarass the trial judge. He did not elaborate as to why the trial judge would be put to embarassment.
Significantly, the trial of the 12-year-old case was proceeded day to day on a directive of the Supreme Court.
Justice Sodhi inquired from CBI counsel N Natarajan whether he had informed the trial Court about the petition filed by the Hindujas in the High Court and the counsel replied in the affirmative.
Meanwhile, Solicitor General Harish Salve, appearing for CBI, sought adjournment of the case saying he was not aware whether notice had been served on CVC and added that he would seek instruction from CVC regarding the next course of action.
Following his request, the Court adjourned the case till May 28.
The Hinduja brothers had sought quashing of the CBI chargesheet against them in the Bofors case saying it was illegal and unconstitutional because it did not have the prior approval of the Commission.
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Cong-BJP members clash in Lok Sabha
New Delhi,Tuesday, May 14, 2002: Congress and BJP members today clashed in the Lok Sabha when a member from Maharashtra accused Vikram Savarkar, son of freedom fighter Veer Savarkar, of making anti-Muslim statements at a public rally in Pune recently.
Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Prakash Ambedkar (Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangha) said the statement of Savarkar, President of Hindu Mahasabha, assumed significance in the light of 'yagna' being performed by VHP in Ayodhya which is scheduled to conclude in July.
Ambedkar demanded a response from the Government as to whether the VHP was trying to fan communal sentiments and resort to disturbances at that time and the action being contemplated by it to check any possible violence on the lines of what took place in Gujarat across the country.
As BJP members including Vinay Katiyar strongly objected to the remarks of Ambedkar and asked him to authenticate the newspaper report he was referring to, Speaker Manohar Joshi intervened to say that the member was taking responsibility for his statement and that he would expunge any remark found to be unparliamentary.
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Dr Reddy cancer drug clears phase I
India's only U.S.-listed drugmaker, Dr Reddy's Laboratories, said on Monday it has completed phase I clinical trials on an anti-cancer drug it discovered.
Phase I is the first of three phases of clinical trials that a pharmaceutical company must carry out on a new drug before starting to sell it.
Dr Reddy's said it will present data from phase I at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology later this month, and plans to start phase II trials on the drug, codenamed DRF-1042, at several centres later this year.
The company said it would soon start phase I trials of another anti-cancer drug, DRF 1644.
Dr Reddy's is one of the few Indian drugmakers that does research for discovering new drugs.
It has licensed two anti-diabetes drugs it developed to Denmark's Novo Nordisk, and another to Swiss giant Novartis.
Dr Reddy's shares ended down 0.04 percent at 999.80 rupees, while the Bombay benchmark index closed up 0.33 percent.
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US official speaks of "risk of war" between India, Pak
Washington,Tuesday, May 14, 2002: As US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia reached New Delhi, a senior Bush administration official on Monday spoke of a "risk of war" between India and Pakistan and said Washington was focused on "defusing these tensions" between the two South Asian nuclear neighbours.
"We are focused on defusing these tensions. I think that the Governments of India and Pakistan have enormous interest in bringing the tensions down and the risks of war down," said Under Secretary of Defence for Policy Douglas J Feith at the 'US-India Defence Industry Seminar' here.
Feith avoided answering a direct question "do you consider that General Pervez Musharraf is doing enough to rein in Kashmiri militants now that the summer season is aproaching?"
He instead replied: "We are focused intensely on this issue of India and Pakistan and the Kashmir problem and the dangers from the mobilisations that have taken place there, as there is a risk of war. You are talking about two countries with nuclear weapons, so the risks are very large.
"We are focused on defusing these tensions. I think that the Governments of India and Pakistan have enormous interest in bringing the tensions down and the risks of war down. I think that President Musharraf knows that reining in the groups that are doing these cross-border attacks is something that is not in the interests of India alone".
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India defence looks to ancient text
(BBC)
Indian scientists are turning to an ancient Hindu text in their search for the secrets of effective stealth warfare.
They believe the book, the Arthashastra, written more than 2,300 years ago, will give Indian troops the edge on their enemies.
India's Defence Minister George Fernandes has approved funding for the project, and told parliament recently that experiments had begun.
The research is being carried out by experts from the Defence Research and Development Organisation and scientists from the University of Pune and National Institute of Virology in western India.
The book includes the recipe for a single meal that will keep a soldier fighting for a month, methods of inducing madness in the enemy as well as advice on chemical and biological warfare.
The book was written by military strategist Kautilya, also known as Chanakya and Vishnugupta, a prime minister in the court of India's first emperor Chandragupta Maurya, in the fourth century BC.
According to a Pune University report, the book says that soldiers fed with a single meal of special herbs, milk and clarified butter can stay without food for an entire month.
Shoes made of camel skin smeared with a serum made from the flesh of owls and vultures can help soldiers walk hundreds of miles during a war without feeling tired.
A powder made from fireflies and the eyes of wild boar can endow soldiers with night vision.
Kautilya wrote in the Arthashastra that a ruler could use any means to attain his goal, and Book XIV touches on aspects of chemical and biological warfare.
The book says that smoke from burning a powder made from the skin and excreta of certain reptiles, animals and birds can cause madness and blindness in the enemy.
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I have committed no wrong: Sinha
New Delhi,Tuesday, May 14, 2002: Facing Opposition demand for his resignation for his alleged links with tainted Flex Industries, Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha today broke his silence saying he has committed no wrong and that BJP need not be on the defensive on the issue.
BJP spokesman V K Malhotra quoted Sinha as saying at the BJP Parliamentary Party meeting that he (Sinha) had not committed any mistake and the party need not be on the defensive.
Malhotra said the Finance Minister would be making a statement in Parliament tomorrow on this issue.
He said Sinha has already given all details about his election from Hazaribagh and that after his statement in Parliament, everything would be clear.
The meeting chaired by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee is the last before the end of the current Budget Session of Parliament.
The Congress has demanded Sinha's resignation on the Flex Industries issue after a media report alleged that he had taken campaign material from the firm for his 1999 Lok Sabha election.
Sinha, who had returned on Sunday night from Shanghai after attending the meeting of the Asian Development Bank, had a 15-minute meeting with Home Minister L K Advani last evening.
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Govt to identify travel circuits to promote regional tourism
New Delhi,Tuesday, May 14, 2002: For promoting regional tourism in the country, the Government proposes to identify six travel circuits on an annual basis and develop them to international standards, the Rajya Sabha was informed today.
Tourism and Culture Minister Jagmohan told Rajnath Singh 'Surya' in a written reply that the six travel circuits would be finalised and developed in close co-ordination and partnership with state governments.
The Minister told P Prabhakar Reddy that four new schemes have been included in the ministry's 2002-03 annual plan for development of tourism infrastructure and promotion of tourism.
These schemes are: integrated development of tourist circuits, product/infrastructure and destination development, assistance for large revenue generating products and capacity building for service providers.
He said the Planning Commission has approved an outlay of Rs 29 billion for the Department of Tourism during 10th Plan for development and promotion of tourism in the country.
Water Resources Minister A C Sethi told R B S Varma that his ministry has not formulated any new scheme for irrigation and water management in the country.
The Central Ground Water Board studies have shown fall in the level of ground water by more than four metre in many districts of Madhya Pradesh, Minister of State for Water Resources Bijoya Chakravarty informed Miss Mabel Rebello.
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India to export 40,000 wheat to Oman, Abu Dabhi
New Delhi,Tuesday, May 14, 2002: Indian wheat continues to be in demand in global market with the country bagging yet another order to export 40,000 tonnes to Oman and Abu Dabhi. However prices fetched have come down drastically due to increasing competition among exporters.
"Our wheat export policy is showing good results and a multinational company (MNC) has just got an order to export 40,000 tonnes Indian wheat to West Asia at 101 dollars Cost and Freight (C&F) for June delivery," official sources told PTI.
With increasing number of exporters, competition within the country for getting orders is getting tough. While the MNC's bid at 101 dollar including a nine dollar freight is the lowest, it outbid an Indian firm which quoted 104 dollar C&F for the same tender.
On an average, 3-4 lakh tonne wheat is being shipped every month but the price Indian wheat is quoting at has come down a good 10 dollar a tonne over the past one year.
An MNC trader said there is a greater scope to export from India but Black Sea countries like Ukraine and Romania are bagging many orders for feed wheat at lower prices of 97 dolla C&F. Furthermore, corn, used as cattle feed, is also cheap at 94-97 dollar FoB.
Demand is likely to pick up with Indonesia's largest miller Bhogasari back in the market and the country likely to pick up one lakh tonnes every month.
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Magnificent players do have lean times: Richards
St John's (Antigua),Tuesday, May 14, 2002: The West Indies batting great Sir Vivian Richards, says Indian maestro Sachin Tendulkar, currently going through a lean patch, is tentative in his approach and does not look settled in his mind.
"At the moment, he doesn't quite look settled in his mind. If you are not going to be settled in your mind, the bat is not going to be settled in your hand," said Richards.
The Antiguan also feels that approaching milestones might be affecting Tendulkar's form.
"He would have started realising by now he is closing in on Sunny Gavaskar and sometimes a lot of things start playing on your mind," said Richards as Tendulkar's slump continued in the first innings of the fourth Test here after he equalled Sir Donald Bradman's record of 29 Test hundreds in the second Test at Port of Spain.
Since then Tendulkar, with 7877 runs from 94 Tests, has scores of 0, 0, 8 and 0 in his last four knocks after starting with 79 and 117 in the first two innings of the series. His last effort in the middle lasted just one ball when he edged a Pedro Collins delivery to wicket-keeper Ridley Jacobs on the opening day here on Friday.
But Richards was not ready to read too much into Tendulkar's poor form saying that magnificent players do go through lean times.
"This is all part of life. He is such a magnificent player and magnificent players do go through lean times," Richards said.
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Hooper, Chanderpaul frustrate India yet again
St John's (Antigua),Tuesday, May 14, 2002: India's faint hopes of winning the fourth Test all but evaporated on the penultimate day here with the batting of Carl Hooper and Shivnarine Chanderpaul proving to be their nemesis for the third time in the series.
The two West Indian batsmen, who already had two double century partnerships in the series, put on 184 runs for the fifth wicket as the hosts comfortably averted the follow-on and ended the fourth day yesterday at 405 for five in reply to the visitors' score of 513 for nine declared.
As Hooper struck his third century of the series, before getting out for 136 towards the end of the day, the Indians could not help but rue the missed chances on the third day when, in an awe-inspiring performance, a heavily bandaged Anil Kumble had very nearly dismissed the West Indian captain three times with the batsman still to enter the 20s.
But neither was there Kumble, who left for India to have his jaw fracture operated upon, nor the chances yesterday as Hooper played a near-flawless knock to continue his dream run in the series which has already seen him amass more than 500 runs, a career-best aggregate.
Chanderpaul, who remained unbeaten on 80 in the company of Ridley Jacobs (18), was not far behind and also approaching his third hundred of the series.
The Indians toiled hard the entire day but all they earned was two wickets. Zaheer Khan trapped Ramnaresh Sarwan for 51 in the third over of the day before Sachin Tendulkar got rid of Hooper.
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Anil Kumble to undergo surgery in Bangalore
St John's, Antigua, May 13: Indian leg-spinner Anil Kumble will undergo surgery to his broken jaw on Wednesday in his hometown of Bangalore. "The surgery has been scheduled for Wednesday morning, soon after he returns home," Indian team physiotherapist Andrew Leipus told Reuters on Monday. "We did not want him to wait for much longer."
Kumble has been ruled out for the rest of the series after being hit by a rising delivery from pace bowler Mervyn Dillon on Saturday but came on to bowl wreathed in bandages on Sunday, sending down 14 overs and picking up the prize wicket of Brian Lara. "What he did yesterday was really brave," Leipus said. "We would have liked him to bowl today if he felt up to it but the flight schedule was such that he had to leave this afternoon."
Leipus said Kumble would take about two weeks to get back on the cricket field after the injury and said the bowler would be available for selection for India's test and One-Day tour of England starting at the end of June. "They are going to put in a plate to hold the jaw together but he is definitely going to be fit for the England tour," Leipus said. "We could have brought him back to West Indies for the One-Dayers at the end of May but thought that would be cutting it a bit fine." Kumble said he bowled on Sunday because he wanted to try his best for India.
The 31-year-old, India's most successful current bowler with 319 wickets in 70 Tests, was left out of the last two matches for off-spinner Harbhajan Singh. He grabbed all 10 Pakistani second-innings wickets at New Delhi in 1999 to equal the world record of England's Jim Laker and set up a memorable series-levelling win.
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